Dictionary entry

βιάζω

G. Abbott-Smith's A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament with Strong's

βιάζω (< βία), and depon. -ομαι,

[in LXX for פּרץ, פּצר, etc.;]

to force, constrain, rare in act. (poet, and late prose), but found in cl. in pass., and so perh. βιάζεται, suffereth violence, Mt 11:12, EV (but v. infr.), whether

(a) in good sense, of disciples (Thayer, al.), or

(b) in bad sense, of the enemies of the kingdom (Meyer, in l.; Dalman, Words, 139 ff.; Cremer, 141 ff.). Mid., advanceth violently, Mt 11:12 (Deiss., BS., 258; Banks, v. ref. in DCG, ii, 803 f.); seq. εἰς, to press violently, or force one's way into, Lk 16:16 (v. ICC, in l., and in Mt 11:12; cf. παραβιάζομαι and v. MM, s.v.).†